October 2009 Alpaca Fiber Symposium

I just returned from an amazing weekend at the October 2009 Alpaca Fiber Symposium held at the Embassy Suites in Denver, Colorado. The weekend was full of wonderful energy, exchanges of ideas, dissemination of new information, and lots and lots to take home and digest as we all figure out where it fits in to the future development of the North American Alpaca Fiber industry. In attendance as participants and presenters were various groups that are already making and marketing products out of alpaca fiber and those involved in the wool and cotton industries on a large scale. Their representatives shared their background, how they go about doing what they do with alpaca fiber, and their expectations and hopes for the future of the industry.

On Friday we had the opportunity to tour the Yocum McColl Laboratories and learn about the services they provide to the wool industry, as well as the particular testing that they provide for us alpaca breeders. Then that evening, participants were treated to a Meet and Greet where we were all able to meet, chat, network and meet new friends.

Saturday was a long and exhausting day for me since I was being exposed to a lot of information that was new to me. I was intent on absorbing every little detail, which coupled with my jet lag made me quite tired; not because it was boring, but because it was such pertinent and timely information and I was experiencing “brain overload! The morning sessions were filled with presentation by representative fiber groups, include AFCNA and NAAFP (two of the larger alpaca fiber co-ops), the Alpaca Blanket Project (producers of American alpaca blankets), Back to Back Fiber Products (specialists in alpaca batting and felt), The Shepherd’s Mill (who is doing some wonderful weaving of Huacaya and Suri fabric and garments), the Suri Network (us Suri breeders’ affiliate organization) and Rocky Mountain Weaving Company (producers of woven alpaca blankets and scarves. It was these presenters’ jobs to tell us about their businesses, how they developed and where they are going. The afternoon sessions showcased a number of Featured Speakers. David Schmidt, President of Kraemer Textiles and Jack Donovan of Jack Donovan and Company which represents Kraemer Textiles for 100% wool carpet yarn spoke first. The focus of their presentation was the production of yarns on a
large scale. Following them, Dr. Merle Rhoades of the spoke about the importance of business planning as the key to a successful business. Next Scott Grey of Jagger Brothers, a custom sales yarn spinner, spoke about fiber procurement, the importance of quality sorting and further processing into a worsted combed top for spinning.. Finally, Sam Buff of the Gaston College Textile Technology Center talked about the importance of textile testing.

Sunday was another great day of learning as we listened to more informative Featured Speakers. Dr. Catherine Keske, a specialist in agricultural economics, discussed repositioning products along with opportunities and risk management. Dr. Keske was followed by Ron Cole of Cole Consulting which functions as a consulting firm for the American Sheep Industry Association and Steve LeValley, a sheep and wool specialist from Colorado State University. They discussed marketing wool today and the use of co-ops, and how we can learn about large scale alpaca fiber production from the wool industry. These speakers were followed the symposium’s Keynote Speaker, John Anderson, Director of the Textile Technology Center at Gaston College. He offered his marketing point of view on how the alpaca community can establish alpaca as the “hot new fiber” for apparel on one hand, and how teaming up with technical fibers might be the route to holding onto value for producers in technical markets.

Then a panel discussion followed focusing on “Learning From the Wool Path”, and featured Dr. Keske, Mr. Cole, LeValley, Anderson, Bob Woodbury and Angus McColl of Yocum McColl Laboratory. The panel took a number of excellent questions which involved some spirited dialogue. And finally, the attendees participated in an open forum which mainly focused on key learnings, next steps, the future of the Alpaca Fiber Symposium, and the value of continuing symposiums like this one.

I am very glad that I was able to attend this Alpaca Fiber Symposium, and do regret having missed the previous Symposium that took place this past April. Unfortunately I missed the information that was presented at that time, as it is the intention of the Steering Committee that each subsequent Symposium builds on the learnings of the last Symposium. The Committee did an excellent job of organizing the event; it was very “tightly” run, all sessions began and ended on time, and for all intents and purposes the ladies seemed to pay a great attention to detail. I do hope to be able to attend the next Symposium, and would be very appreciative if more information specific to the Suri alpaca and Suri breeders be included in the weekend.